Uphaar fire: Court examines charges against IPS officer

New Delhi: A new judge who took over the hearing of the case against former IPS officer Amod Kanth for his alleged culpability in the 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy today said he needs to go through the files before deciding on framing of charges against him. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Lokesh Kumar Sharma said as he has just taken over the case from the previous ACMM Sanjay Sharma, he would require more time to go through the files before framing of charges in the case and posted the matter for further hearing on November 17. [caption id=“attachment_404982” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The court is going through documents to decide if charges can be framed against the accused IPS officer.[/caption] “Part arguments on charge heard. Put up for further arguments on November 17,” the ACMM said. Kanth’s counsel, meanwhile, said in a statement that his plea for quashing of summons and stay of proceedings in lower court will come for hearing in the Delhi High Court on August 27. Fifty nine people had been asphyxiated to death and over 100 others were injured in ill-fated Uphaar cinema hall on June 13, 1997 during the maiden screening of Hindi blockbuster ‘Border’. A case was registered against Kanth on the order of the court on a plea by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), which had accused former senior police officer of allowing extra seats in the theatre in his capacity as DCP (Licencing) with the knowledge that such a decision would be disastrous in an emergency like fire. Arguing for framing of charges against Kanth, AVUT counsel K T S Tulsi said on the basis of the documents on record, a prima facie case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under section 304 of Indian Penal Code is made out against former IPS officer. Tulsi, referring to an affidavit submitted by Kanth before the Delhi High Court, said Kanth had the ‘knowledge’ that installation of additional seats in the balcony of Uphaar cinema could lead to loss of life in an emergency situation. PTI